Faith & Friends. Prayer & Laughter.

Oh Forrest, you have shown such courage and character throughout the triumphs and tragedies of this journey. I can't begin to comprehend how or why we are here again. But once here, the delays are so difficult. We had hoped to tackle the surgery Monday, to quickly repair the breakdown in your scalp incision before infection spread further. But we must wait until the team is assembled and the right plastics and neurosurgeons are available to make sure they are able to handle whatever needs to be done. Our hope and prayer is that when you go to surgery Tuesday afternoon the surgeons will find the infection has not involved the prosthetic. If it is not affected, they can remove just the devitalized skin and cover the defect with flaps of healthy scalp or skin grafts. And we could be home again this week-end, Your father and I hold hands and through our fear pray that God will shine his light on you through the coming hours, days and months. That your third prosthetic will be spared and your recovery will be swift and uncomplicated.

The waiting, the unknowable, the fear of you slipping away from us in spite of all you have overcome is terrifying. And yet you continue to inspire and charm all of us, including your doctors and nurses. Many of these generous souls spent months taking care of you when you could barely wiggle your toes or lift your head. They thrill now at your smile, your voice, your proffered handshake. They stop by to see you, to speak of miracles, and God's love, and to ask about your wonderful brother. We are grateful for their care and encouragement and for the focus on how far you have come.

We spent Monday in endless consultations while your brother and pals encircle you with their love and faith. With Tami facilitating, they cheer you with an avalanche of texts, phone calls and Skypes. Nick has you making funny faces, laughing about your childhood escapades, and plotting how he is going to break you out of the hospital and run off to join Austin in Hawaii.

You are blessed with amazing friends Forrest. We are grateful for the joy and laughter they bring to you and your team. And you will get through this, we will get back on your amazing trajectory, taking you all the way to Hawaii and beyond! You said it yourself when asked if you were tired and ready to go back to bed. You looked out the hospital window and said, "I have a lot of important stuff to do." You will heal Forrest, and have fun doing all that important stuff!

With hope, faith, and love, Mum